Prior to the series with Tampa Bay, I got to thinking about how the schedule makers had set up the Mets for failure. Our first 31 games against fairly good teams while the Braves and Phillies got to play almost half of their games against teams like the Marlins, White Sox and Astros.
Now, after witnessing this weekend’s debacle, teams like the White Sox, Marlins and Astros are lamenting that they have not played the Mets.
When I made my pre-season predictions that the Mets were playoff bound it was based on the assumption that our core players would improve over the lackluster 2023 campaign. Thus far each has regressed. None of Nimmo, Lindor, Alonso and McNeil are doing well, although Lindor has picked it up recently. What’s telling is the inability to produce in clutch situations.
For example, bases loaded with no outs, we hope that one of the next three batters gets a walk to produce a run since it’s unlikely they will put the ball in play. Look at last Friday’s game when McNeil failed to hit the ball deep enough to score Alonso who foolishly did not slide feet first.
I’m a believer that Mendoza will eventually turn out to be a good manager. But, what was he thinking taking out Garrett on Saturday after retiring one batter and bringing Ottavino in. I know Otto’s been great this season but that was not the right time to bring him in to start the eighth. Also, Diaz is not Diaz yet.
He has not been dominating thus far and has been depending on his slider to get swing and misses. However, it was predictable that Arozarena would tee off one slider too many after he showed an inability to catch up to fastballs.
Team wide poor defense has defined the team over the first 34 games. Every single or walk becomes a double with the inability to throw out runners. Too many balls don’t get caught and then there are the errors of omission.
There have been throws made to the wrong base or simply hesitating before making a play. While Baty has been playing third like an all-star, he failed to make a couple of key plays in Sunday’s loss.
Why is Wendle still with the team? He has been the worst defender on the team and his bat is weak - a step down from Guillorme. Maybe it’s time to bring up Iglesias. Wonder if JD is past prime, I guess time will tell.
In the meantime, Vientos is languishing away in Syracuse. If Mark has no future on this team, perhaps it’s time to trade him. Or maybe, he’s Pete’s replacement come July.
I don’t remember umpiring being this bad league wide. The inconsistency is maddening. Batters are confused after seeing a pitch called a ball and the next similar pitch called a strike. Seems like more umps want to be like Angel Hernandez.
Again, one of my pet peeves is with a free runner in extra innings the first batter is not automatically walked. It just makes too much sense.
Ray
May 7, 2024
Ray, I largely concur.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side, it looks more like Megill is 10 days away, Peterson 3 weeks away, and Senga 4 weeks away. That is an infusion.
I agree Diaz, if he feels he’s lost a few MPH off the FB, should not over-rely on the slider. 97-99 still is potent, just not lethal. Mix those pitches up well. I’ve seen more than enough of Houser, and almost enough of Quintana.
Win the close ones, stay close, and hopefully the reinforcements will save the day.
Still we're a solid playoff team if Jeff and Pete didn't totally suck so what exactly happened to them both? Pending free agency pressure for Pete but Jeff is another question and I know it's early for JD but why is it I see another former All-Star crash and burn right after we sign him as we didn't sign him to hit a few singles. It will be very interesting to see how our new "power" FO handles all this. With fingers crossed LGM!
ReplyDeleteGary, is it age for both Pete and Jeff? Jeff is 32. Pete is just 29.5 years old, but Javy Baez, for one, was dangerous up until about 29.5, but has sucked since..265 OBP and a .350 slug % in 2022-2024. Ruben Tejada at ages 21-22, in 2 seasons, had a .345 OBP in 877 PAs, 80 points higher than Baez the “star” in 2022-24. Of course, Ruben never had a MLB hit past age 27. Why? He got old early.
ReplyDeleteAs good an answer as any Tom which of course would emphasize the new trend of signing anyone to a long term mega contract is just nuts period. Certainly we have seen a new trend to shorter term high AAV deals so what that means for Alonso remains to be seen but we know Mr. Cohen is not a foolish man so stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteGary, even more so for pitchers, who are all-too-well acquainted with Mack the Knife these days
ReplyDeleteAll good arguments, but there is something I still don't understand about the product I see on the field. This team went through spring training, and one would expect an emphasis on fundamentals during spring to make sure things are done right on the field. Yet I see many mental mistakes out there. The stolen base issue is one of them - there are guys getting halfway down the base path before the pitch is thrown, especially on steals of third. Is no one paying attention? Missed cutoffs, pitchers not covering first on ground balls to the right side, I could go on but you get the message.
ReplyDeleteWho's to blame?
ReplyDelete